In a departure from the veneer of happiness and perfection often seen on social media, YouTube star Lilly Singh recently announced her break from the platform, citing the need to be "mentally healthier." 

Known for her comedic skits, Singh's channel "IISuperwomanII" is one of the most popular on YouTube.

Part of her popularity has come from her steady stream of content. For many of the last eight years, Singh has uploaded at least two videos a week, along with her daily vlogs. Her consistency has helped her rise among the rankings of YouTube stars and led to videos with celebrities such as Will Smith, Charlize Theron and John Legend. Last year, Singh was number 10 on the Forbes list of highest paid YouTube stars at 10.5 million US dollars. 

At the same time, the pressure of constant creation has led to burnout, stress and confusion. Speaking to her more than 16 million subscribers, Singh admitted to being “mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted.” 

Acknowledging that the platform has been a key part of her success, Singh also pointed to the demands of keeping up as taking a toll on her happiness. In dealing with the platform's changes, Singh says there have been moments that she thinks, "I'm just doing this because I think I have to, on this platform that demands constant content." 

Singh, like many other creators, is forced to deal with the risk of losing viewers when they stop pumping out videos. YouTube, like most social platforms, have algorithms that reward frequency and engagement. If a video has high engagement and longer view times, it's served up to more people, and success is compounded. However, the gains are fragile, and the YouTube machine requires constant content to keep the numbers going. 

Despite having millions of subscribers, a growing number of creators cite isolation, anxiety and pressure as reasons for taking breaks or quitting altogether. Michelle Phan, one of YouTube's first stars, left the platform last year after describing how she lost herself in the success. Another popular YouTube creator Elle Mills returned to YouTube after a four-month hiatus, with a video titled "The aftermath of my YouTube breakdown." 

While Facebook and YouTube have been around for more than a decade, China's social media sites are still relatively new, with the concomitant boom in social media stars. Incubators are eager to discover the next big star, but the pressure to look a certain way has led to an increase in plastic surgery. 

The impacts of social media on mental health have only recently become a topic of study. Many of the findings are inconclusive, but social media has been linked to depression, anxiety and lower self-esteem. The BBC has a round-up of what's known so far, and what's left to be studied. 

(Top photo: YouTube star Lilly Singh unveils YouTube's new paid subscription service at the YouTube Space LA in Playa Del Rey, Los Angeles, October 21, 2015.)